ASSAM

· State Govt failed to implement 1917 Act

ð Realising the importance of the passengers travelling by mechanically propelled inland water vessels, the then British rulers formulated the Inland Vessels Act way back in 1917, which gave details of how such vessels should be regulated. But unfortunately, over the years, the respective governments in Assam failed to implement the Act to ensure passenger safety and even a set of proposals submitted to the government in 2012 in this regard were overlooked.

ð The Inland Vessels Act, 1917 clearly indicated that all mechanically propelled boats having outboard engines should come under the purview of the Act and the Act is applicable to the entire country except Jammu and Kashmir. The Act is also not applicable for fishing boats and the boats registered under Merchant Shipping rules.

ð The Act clearly stated that no mechanically propelled boat would start a voyage without a certificate of survey.

ð According to the Act, the number of passengers that a vessel can carry should be certified.

ð The Act made by the British clearly indicated that all boats should be registered and a boat registered in one State should not be allowed to operate in another State.

ð The Act outlined the qualifications that those plying the boats should be checked.

INTERNATIONAL

India Sri Lanka Naval Exercise Slinex-18

Indian Naval Ships Kirch, Sumitra and Cora Divh entered Trincomalee, Sri Lanka to participate in the sixth edition of SLINEX 2018, a bi-lateral Naval Exercise between India and Sri Lanka, from 07 to 13 September 2018.

SLINEX series of bilateral maritime exercises were initiated in 2005 and since then five successful engagements have been conducted.

SLINEX over the years has helped both the Navies in understanding each other’s procedures and enhanced interoperability.

This edition of the exercise will further strength ties between the two maritime neighbours and contribute towards maritime security in the region.

India and France sign an implementation agreement on “MOBILISE YOUR CITY”

India and France have signed an implementation agreement on “MOBILISE YOUR CITY” (MYC).

Mobilise Your City (MYC) is part of an international initiative which is supported by the French and the German Governments and was launched at 21^stConference of Parties (COP21) meeting in December, 2015.

Based on a proposal made by AFD in 2015, the European Union has agreed to provide funds of Euro 3.5 million through the AFD to contribute to specific investments and technical assistance components within the Mobilise Your City (MYC) programme in India.

· France to collaborate on India’s first human space mission ‘Gaganyaan’

India and Franceinked an agreement to collaborate on Gaganyaan, ISRO’s first human space mission.
ISRO and CNES, the French space agency, will be combining their expertise in fields of space medicine, astronaut health monitoring, life support, radiation protection, space debris protection and personal hygiene systems.
The two space agencies also plan to work on Mars, Venus and asteroids.
India plans to send three humans to space before 2022. It would make India one of the four countries in the world after Russia, US and China to launch a manned space flight.

· Qatar 1st Gulf nation to grant permanent residency to expatriates

The country’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thanihas issued a decree allowing a maximum of 100 expatriates (foreigners) to gain permanent residency each year.
Children of Qatari mothers, and skilled expatriates who have lived in the country for more than 20 yearswill be given priority.
Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world with an average income of nearly $124,000 a year.

· Google announces new AI Technology to fight online child sexual abuse

The advanced AI technology uses deep neural networks for image processing that will enable identification of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.

The new tool based on the deep neural networks will be made available for free to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other “industry partners,” including other technology companies, via a new Content Safety API service.

· India supports Mauritius’ claim over disputed Chagos islands under UK-control

At the International Court of Justice (ICJ), India has supported Mauritius over its claim on Chagos Islands – home to Diego Garcia, which are under the United Kingdom’s control in the Indian Ocean.
In 1965, the Chagos islands were ‘detached’ from the colony of Mauritius. Then the United Kingdom has leased the largest island of the archipelago – Diego Garcia– to the United States for 50 years. It is now used as a military base.
Mauritius disputes the United Kingdom’s rights over the islands.

NATIONAL

· India awaits longest road-rail bridge — the Bogibeel Bridge

The Brahmaputra was till 1962 the only river in India that had not been bridged along its entire length either for road or railway,

The river, more than 10 km wide in several stretches, now awaits the completion of its fourth and easternmost span — the country’s longest road-rail bridge at 4.94 km — that India’s defence forces and residents of the eastern half of the Northeast have been demanding for almost five decades.

The Bogibeel bridge will usher in a new era of economic development in the region, apart from strengthening national security in the border areas.

· Sikkim to be on aviation map soon

Sikkim is all set to be added to the aviation map with the launch of one airline’s daily flights from Kolkata and Guwahati to Pakyong from next month under the government’s regional connectivity scheme, UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik).

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